HP= Harry Potter YGO = Yu Gi Oh ET= E.T. JR =JOLLIE_RANCHER SS = Severus
Snape MV =Mysterious Voice JW= Joey Wheeler RW =Ron Weasly
RW: W-w-where am I?
ME: (Maniacal laughter) It's all inside my mind. Only my mind.
JR: Now there's a scary thought.
RW: Who are you people?
HP: (In a panicked voice) They're crazy Ron. Completely crazy. They're muggle maniacs. Someone Save us!!!
YGO: (from right behind Ron) Hello!
RW: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YGO: I'm not that scary am I? WWWWWAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! No wonder Pegasus and Kiaba and Bakura, and Marik don't like me! WWWWWWAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!
ME: Dry up shortie.
YGO: I'm not that short.
JR: Yeah, you'll be the first ta drown if ya flood the place.
YGO: I'm NOT that short!
HP: Yeah sure you just keep tellin' yourself that. Maybe it will help you grow another inch. Then you'd be two foot one!
YGO: I'M NOT THAT SHORT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ET: Hey guys lay off will ya.
ME: Fine. Spoil all the fun.
ET: ^_^
SS: This is all very charming, but am I the only one who finds this useless jabber completely pointless.
MV: Yes.
JR: Well, if you don't like the 'pointless jabber' then do the disclaimer.
SS: These idiots couldn't possibly have come up with Harry, Ron, E.T., Yu Gi, myself, or any of the other characters in this fanfic, let alone any of the places, They're not smart enough for that.
JR: I would be insulted, but it's probably true.
ME: Hn.
ET: What is that?
ME: "Eep" he eeped.
YGO: What are you doing?
JR: loll
ME: ^_^ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------
Into the Mists
By Faith_Kitty and Jollie_Rancher
Chapter Eight: Possession
The next morning the four friends headed to breakfast together. "Two days into school and already there's been more excitement than one person should ever have to endure. I hope things settle down some now." Ron whimpered as he plopped down across from Hermione. When they're eyes met Ron quickly busied himself with piling food on his plate.
Suddenly the Great Hall was full of owls bringing the mail. The four were surprised when a beautiful Screech Owl with a WWW on it's back landed in front of them with a package for Ginny.
"It's from Fred and George." She said excitedly. She ripped the small package open enthusiastically. She read it out loud.
Dear Ginny, First, congratulations to you, Harry, Ron, and Hermione for getting detention in detention. And a special congratulations to you for getting three detentions in one day. However, we still hold the record of five in one day and 86 in one year. So keep trying. And we thought you might like some goodies. Have fun with them and use them well.
Love,
Fred and George
In the package were some of the twin's latest inventions of the practical joke kind.
"Wow, they certainly come up with some crazy ideas." Harry commented sifting through the contents of Ginny's package.
"They should be put up. Using them would be against the rules." Hermione said taking the package from Ron and Harry and handing it to Ginny with a stern look.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Their lives settled into a daily pattern over the next few weeks. Quiddich practice started and Ginny remained seeker, even though she wanted to be chaser, because they could find no one else to be seeker. And Ron was off to a good start as keeper and had improved greatly since last year. Unfortunately for Ginny part of her daily routine was getting a detention from Snape. It appeared that the twins had jinxed the various items they had sent her so that no matter where she left them they always wound up back on her person. Possession of these items was the reason Snape gave her detention daily. Although, it could have been much worse if it hadn't been for the fact that Estel always seemed to be the one she served detention with. She became very fond of Estel and the other three did as well. They would often accompany Ginny to and from detention for the chance to speak with Estel. Professor Mouto would be there at times as well and on these occasions they were often inclined to stay. In History of Magic they had been learning about the magic of ancient Egypt, including shadow magic. And in Defense Against The Dark Arts they were learning to duel and about shadow magic and how it eats normal magic. Most students either could not or would not believe what Professor Mouto said about shadow magic. The exception was Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny who constantly sought to learn as much as they could, which was part of the reason they all walked Ginny to and from detention.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Yami Marik looked at the grave robber who sat across the tattered room. "What do you think. Do you find it wise to duel him face to face? If we do that, all three God cards would be there. Not to mention the fact that the scales have been located. That would leave only two of the necessary parts for the ritual."
"What's missing?" Bakura asked.
"The other two items."
"Why do I get the feeling that that's not all that's missing?"
"True love."
"What?"
"Whoever wants to receive the spirit must be willing to die for true love."
"Then there's only one thing missing."
"What?" Marik hissed.
""I said there's only one thing."
"Yes, I heard you, you imbecile. What did you mean by that."
"I mean that little Yu Gi has gotten engaged."
"What, but how, to whom?"
"He's engaged to the owner of the Millennium Scales. As for how, the normal way I suppose. He proposed."
"You fool, don't you know what this means?"
"It means he has a new weakness, we hurt her, we hurt him."
"No you idiot. It means he's stronger. Shadow magic is a power of the soul. The soul grows through emotion."
"So I guess this means you don't want to duel Yu Gi Mouto."
"You are a fool. I have to duel him, but I want it to be in a place of my choosing. Besides, I haven't dueled him in years. I need to know how strong he has become."
"That's easy enough. I agree we need to test him. But how would you like to do so with My Lord following us around?"
"I have it all worked out."
"Yes, but I want to know exactly what you are going to do, I don't want you to get your hands on My Millennium Items."
"Yours?" Marik asked him raising one thin brow.
"Yes, mine. I won't let you get your hands on them."
"You fool."
"Perhaps, but I still want to know what you are planning."
"Fine." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
On the way to History of Magic Harry noticed that Ginny had her dueling deck with her. She had been acting strange all morning and had hardly spoken at breakfast. He hoped she was all right.
"Ginny, why are you bringing your deck to class?" Harry asked her.
"Mind your own business and leave me to mine you imbecile." She shot back at him in a manner not her own.
"I'm sorry." Harry said hurt and confused not knowing what else to say to keep her from being upset with him. He went over to where Ron was.
"Ron, is something wrong with Ginny?" He asked his close friend.
"I don't know, you might ask Hermione, girls are always talking to each other about stuff." Ron said in response. Harry went to get next to Hermione.
"Hermione, do you know what's gotten into Ginny?" He asked hoping she could provide some insight.
"I'm not sure, she won't talk to me. She's been acting this way since Care of Magical Creatures two days ago." Hermione said sounding somewhat worried.
"What did they do there?" Harry asked.
"I think they went out into the Forbidden Forest." She replied. "Something may have happened in the forest. Ernie McMillan said she stayed behind to talk to Hagrid, and then missed their next two classes."
"That doesn't sound like Ginny." Harry said. "Maybe we should tell Estel. She'll know what to do."
"Let's go after History of Magic. The sooner the better."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Estel sat on the corner of Yu Gi's desk. "Honey," she said, "I've been thinking."
"Yes," he asked her.
"Let's have the wedding at Hogwarts. I mean, it would be fun. Not to mention Hermione and Ginny could be bridesmaids."
"And I suppose you want Harry and Ron to be groomsmen."
"Yes," she smiled. "And in your extra nice I'll even suggest that Joey, Tristan, Mia, and Serenity be part of the ceremony."
"What if I'm not nice," he said with an impish glint in his eyes. "What if I'm naughty?"
"Then I'll just have to be naughty back." she whispered in his ear. He looked at her in surprise and then began to laugh.
"Class is about to start" he told her. "Do you want to stick around, or would you prefer to go scare some students lingering in the halls?"
"I think I'll settle for a good mix. I'll go stand in the hall and you can leave the door open." she said.
"Sounds good to me." he said grabbing her around the waist and pulling her off the desk. Laughing he picked her up and swung her around. When she too was laughing he set her down and covered her lips with his. When he removed them her eyes were closed and she was smiling in pure joy. Slowly she sighed and opened her eyes.
"I love you." She said simply.
"I love you too." He watched as she glided from the room. He was still staring at the place where she had stepped into the Shadow Realms when the students arrived.
As they filtered in he pulled his awareness back to the present. Harry and Hermione came in with worried expression. Then Ginny came in. Had he been paying attention he would have notice the slight wave of Shadow Magic that followed her into the room, but only if he had been paying very close attention. Eventually everyone got settled down for class to begin.
"We've been studying the Ancient Egyptian Sorcerers and wizards. Does anyone remember where we left off?" Hermione raised her hand. "Yes?"
"You were talking about how the everyone in Egypt knew about magic. It wasn't a secret like it is now."
"Very good." He smiled. "Five points to Gryffindor. How and why did they know about the magic?"
This time Ginny raised her hand. "They knew because of the duels between the nobles. One in particular in which the Pharaoh fought a treacherous magician. After the duel the Pharaoh locked all the power away into seven Items. From then on the magic was a secret. After all, he couldn't have just anyone knowing about the unbelievable power he had hidden. They might try to take it."
Yu Gi narrowed his eyes. "Have we discussed this in class?" he asked her, his yami taking over.
"Who needs to discuss what is common knowledge among old friends."
Instantly Yami Yu Gi was on his guard. //Estel// he sent. //I need you, but when you get here, hide. Don't show yourself// He felt her enter the room. Then he returned his attention to Ginny. "I'm afraid I don't understand."
"Truly little Yu Gi. Then you are more of a pathetic fool than I thought you were. But don't worry. Soon I'll have the Spirit, Bakura will have your puzzle, and you will have bigger things to worry about, when you're trapped in the Shadow Realms."
"Marik." He hissed. "I didn't think even you would stoop so low as to enslave a child."
"They are much easier to control. Especially when they've been a mind slave before." Ginny said with an evil glint to her eyes.
"What do you want Marik? Whatever it is leave the child out of it."
"But Lord Voldemort suggested this child in particular. I personally don't see why he likes this child. Even locked in a soul room she can scream amazingly loud."
"I can tell. You'd better be careful Marik. You've lost control before. You wouldn't want to do so again. Hold on tight, you're already slipping."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry ran forward knocking over chairs and desks. Ginny turned to him. For a split second he thought he saw sorrow, fear, and anger hidden in her eyes. Then it was gone. Ginny quickly pulled out Mirror Wall and threw a barrier up between them.
"Fight him!" Harry screamed at her in desperation. "You have to fight it Ginny. I can't help you this time. But I know you can do it. Just fight him!"
Ginny looked at him in contempt. "My control won't slip." She said turning back to Yami Yu Gi. "Bakura is strengthening me this time. Last time it was he who broke the tie."
"Ah, the tie that binds. It can always be broken if the resistance is strong enough."
"Do something!" Ron yelled to no one in particular. Hermione took his hand in hers and whispered through her tears, "Professor Mouto will save her."
"Yes, Professor Mouto. Save her." Ginny snarled pulling out a dueling deck. Yu Gi glanced around the room. Then once again the ceiling began to darken. Two white slippered feet slowly sank to the floor followed by a white Egyptian style dress. Silently she sank to the floor. Her ebony hair fell softly down to her waist.
"Sister." Ginny hissed almost in alarm. Then she strode to stand beside Yu Gi. This girl was much shorter than his sister, Ishizu. Quietly she stretched up to her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek.
"You can defeat him, my love." Yami Estel whispered.
"So this is the famed possessor of the Millennium Scales!"
"Wrong. I am the loyal servant of my pharaoh!" She accused, one delicate finger pointed at Ginny. "Unlike you," she snarled with contempt, "I serve him with every ounce of my soul. You, on the other hand are nothing but the lowest form of scum, traitor!" Her eyes had started to glow the same reddish-purple of Yu Gi's. " As for you, you long-forgotten, good-for- naught pick-pocket Are you now a worthless puppet as well as a mangy cur, you treacherous toad."
Ginny snarled at the hurled insults. //You're getting better at that, love.// Yami Yu Gi whispered to her in her mind.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry watched on in helplessness. It was the same feeling he'd had when he watched Voldemort kill Cedric, or as he saw Sirius fall behind the veil. There nothing he could do and he knew it. She must keep fighting. Could any one save her? If any one could, it would be Professor Mouto. Everything in his being was screaming, he could not lose her too.
Ron and Hermione griped each other's hands tighter. Ron stared on with a mixture of anger and fear. Sure Ginny could be a pain but she was his sister and he loved her. He could tell by the look on Professor Mouto's face that this was a very bad situation. He knew Ginny was a fighter, he had the scars to prove it, and she could not give in now when it mattered most. He only hoped that Yu Gi and Estel could do something. Hermione looked on in tears. She had heard many stories about the King of Games, and she now put all her faith in him and in Ginny's ability to keep fighting. She prayed they would not fail.
Neville stared in horror. Would she wind up like his parents. No! She couldn't. She had to fight. There had to be some way someone could save her.
The whole class was deathly silent. Though none of them fully understood the gravity of the situation they all knew that the stakes were high. One look at their Professor told them that much.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ginny placed the deck on the table. "Are you ready to lose your puzzle?" She taunted.
"You've sang that song before Marik" Yu Gi reminded him, "but I've yet to lose to you." He said pulling out his famous Dark Magician deck. Estel looked on to her pharaoh in confidence. He would not lose, of that she was certain. She turned her gaze to Ginny. Once again she felt the scales go haywire. Yes, that girl was definitely outnumbered. She would have to do something about that.
Yu Gi and Ginny were quickly ready to begin. Slowly Yu Gi felt the Shadow Realm creeping up to hide them. "I don't think so." He hissed at Ginny. He bent his will and the indigo mists withdrew, save for a few small tendrils which twirled themselves lovingly about his arms and legs. Then he strode towards the table and sat opposite his opponent. Silently they shuffled their decks and drew five cards each.
"Let's duel!" They shouted, startling half the class. The duel began in earnest. They played card after card. Then Yu Gi noticed something. Every time Ginny went to get a card she felt along its edge, as though looking for something. Oh well. Let her cheat. He would still win. \\Aibou,\\ Estel whispered to him in his soul room. \\I'm going to get rid of Bakura. When I do you have to get rid of Marik.\\
//I can't get rid of him without getting rid of her.//
\\ Try.\\
Estel delved deep into the Shadow Realms for the place where she kept her scales hidden. When she found it she took them out. Balancing carefully between her hands she began to murmur a quiet chant. She couldn't let Marik and Bakura know what she was doing. When she had reached the pinnacle of her powers she blasted the tie that was Bakura's bond to the girl.
"I place this card face down, and I change the arena to Mountain." Yami said laying Mountain face up, and Just Deserts face down. Then he played Winged Guardian Of The Fortress face down in defense mode.
"My turn." Ginny hissed in Marik's uncouth voice. I play Saggi The Dark Clown in defensive."
"It doesn't matter Marik." Yami said. "I play dark hole." Marik glared at him through Ginny's eyes. \\NOW!\\ He heard in his mind. Confusion flashed across Ginny's face. "Elephants?!?!?!?!?!?!"
"I play Harpie's Brother in attack mode." He said laying down the card Estel had given him on their first date. "I attack with Harpie's Brother! GO!" With only fifteen hundred Life Points left, Marik was destroyed. But that wasn't what the students were watching. The monster had come to life, and before their very eyes had attacked Ginny. His red wings beat the air ferociously. Ginny seemed to split into two people. Her self, and a person about their professor's height. He had what seemed to be white hair and was holding a golden rod before him. Then he was gone.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
When Bakura's hold on the young girl snapped, Estel dove into her mind where she sat sobbing in her soul room. "Ginny!" She roared from the outside of the closed door. "Ginny can you hear me?"
"Estel?" The girl yelled from inside her soul room.
"Ginny, listen to me. This is your mind. If you can't shake Marik, we can't help you. You have to find away to get rid of this door."
"I can't," she wailed, "It's to strong."
"I've weakened it some from out here. All you have to do is hit it with something big and it will fall. I'm leaving now, but you will hear me when it's time." Estel said as she pulled out of Ginny's mind.
\\ NOW!\\ she cried in the loudest mind voice she possessed. If Ginny and Yami didn't hit Marik at exactly the same time, Ginny would be lost for all eternity.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
What is something big? Ginny thought, something big, something big, suddenly she had an Idea. \\NOW!\\ A heard rampaging of elephants ran past Ginny and trampled the door down. She was free. Suddenly there was a strange sensation all through her, like when someone hit you directly with a powerful spell. She felt it as the presence that had possessed her was torn from her mind completely freeing her from his control. But a voice was screaming at her to stop fighting him, he would regain control. She would not stop, she knew she would not survive if she stopped fighting so she fought even harder. The world suddenly burst into view and then faded once again as she collapsed on the floor. But she managed to say one word before she lost consciousness.
"Harry" came the whispered word.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry watched as the wall between him and Ginny disintegrated. He ran to Ginny's side just as she began to collapse. "Harry" she whispered before going limp in his arms. "Ginny!" he hollered checking for a pulse or breath or any sign of life.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Yami Yu Gi looked over to Yami Estel who stood at his side. He watched her as she put away the Scales. On silent feet she walked over to him and put her hands on his shoulders. Just as quietly he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. Strange, he thought to himself, she's so slender, and yet she's so strong. She pulled away and cupped his face in her hands. A single tear trailed a path down his cheek. She brushed it off his face with one alabaster hand. Her eyes glowed with love. He looked down from her face to the deck that had been scattered across the table on which they had dueled. Regretfully he picked up Marik's deck and threw it into the fire in the corner of the room. "There will be no cheating in this room." He whispered. Then Estel slipped her hand around his. They fled to his soul room to rest, leaving their Hikaris to take care of the students. When they were hidden away within the confines of the mental labyrinth, he collapsed in her arms from sheer exhaustion.
Yu Gi looked around the classroom in disbelief. He looked down and saw his beloved with her arms wrapped lovingly around him. He smiled at her.
"Yami says we can handle it from here. It's going to be okay now." She smiled up at him. Together they turned to the students. Ginny was quite unconscious. Neville was sobbing uncontrollably, and shaking like mad. Hermione and Ron were clinging to each other, completely unaware of anything but Ginny's lifeless form crumpled in Harry's arms. Yu Gi walked over to where Harry was bent over Ginny. He placed one hand on the young man's shoulder. Harry looked up at his professor with tear stained eyes.
"Yami said it will be alright. Take her to the Hospital Wing." Quietly he turned back to Estel.
"Your yami says it will be alright, and mine agrees with him, so we know it will be fine." He smiled at her.
"We need to tell Dumbledor about this." The two adults left the room. They didn't get far though. They had just reached the door when Yu Gi turned as though remembering something. "Oh, yeah. Class dismissed."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Unable to contain their excitement any longer the students all moved in around Ginny. Harry looked up to see them all pressing in around him keeping him from being able to get her to the Hospital Wing.
"Back off!" He ordered looking for someone to help him get the mob away from Ginny. The DA members immediately came to his aid and drew their wands. The other students cleared away and left a path to the doors. Harry picked up Ginny and carried her to the Hospital Wing, escorted by the DA members. When they reached the door only Harry, Ron, and Hermione went in.
Madam Pomphrey looked up and rushed to help them get Ginny on one of the beds and immediately began to check her over. The students stood in silence, waiting.
"Well, nothing a good nights sleep won't cure. She'll be just fine by morning." Madam Pomphrey reassured them as she shooed them out and on to their next class. Out side the door the other DA members were waiting to find out what Madam Pomphrey had said. Neville looked like bad news would give him a nervous break down.
"She said Ginny will be fine, she just needs some sleep." Harry managed to tell them and they all left for their next class silently. However, none of them, especially Harry, Ron, and Hermione, could concentrate in any of their classes the rest of the day.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------
ME: So, what did you guys think?
JR: If you guys aren't totally into this story by now, you're just sad.
HP: I'm not that gushy!
YGO: Now you know how I feel.
HP: Yeah, but you are that short.
YGO: Am not.
ET: Leave off Harry.
RW: Why was I hugging Hermione?
JR: You weren't hugging her, you were clinging to her. There's a difference. You were only holding hands.
RW: %$ Why was I hugging Hermione?
JR: -_- You were worried about Ginny, okay.
ET: Not to mention you love her.
RW: I do?
HP: Look he's practicing for the wedding already.
ET: When's the date.
RW: %$
JW: Hey did I miss anything?
ME: Only the whole story Joey.
JW: O_o
ET: Well, I've got to go help Hermione pick out her wedding dress.
RW: Don't get an expensive one, I'm not rich you know.
ME: -_- I've got to take Ron to the therapist to convince him he's not getting married. Thanks guys.
JR: I'll come with you. He might need to be restrained.
RW: O_o
HP: Don't worry Ron, I'll come to make sure they don't do anything terrible.
SS: This is pointless. I'm leaving.
YGO: What! I'm late, I promised Grandpa I'd help him sweep the shop!
MV: I think I'll try and catch up with Hermione and E.T. See ya Joey.
JW: Hey guys! Wait for me!
Okay. Semi-serious notes. I out that little twist about true love releasing the Spirit of the Pharaoh because I like the idea of 'true love conquers all. Oh, and I also needed a good reason for ET to be at the final duel.
RW: W-w-where am I?
ME: (Maniacal laughter) It's all inside my mind. Only my mind.
JR: Now there's a scary thought.
RW: Who are you people?
HP: (In a panicked voice) They're crazy Ron. Completely crazy. They're muggle maniacs. Someone Save us!!!
YGO: (from right behind Ron) Hello!
RW: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YGO: I'm not that scary am I? WWWWWAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! No wonder Pegasus and Kiaba and Bakura, and Marik don't like me! WWWWWWAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!
ME: Dry up shortie.
YGO: I'm not that short.
JR: Yeah, you'll be the first ta drown if ya flood the place.
YGO: I'm NOT that short!
HP: Yeah sure you just keep tellin' yourself that. Maybe it will help you grow another inch. Then you'd be two foot one!
YGO: I'M NOT THAT SHORT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ET: Hey guys lay off will ya.
ME: Fine. Spoil all the fun.
ET: ^_^
SS: This is all very charming, but am I the only one who finds this useless jabber completely pointless.
MV: Yes.
JR: Well, if you don't like the 'pointless jabber' then do the disclaimer.
SS: These idiots couldn't possibly have come up with Harry, Ron, E.T., Yu Gi, myself, or any of the other characters in this fanfic, let alone any of the places, They're not smart enough for that.
JR: I would be insulted, but it's probably true.
ME: Hn.
ET: What is that?
ME: "Eep" he eeped.
YGO: What are you doing?
JR: loll
ME: ^_^ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------
Into the Mists
By Faith_Kitty and Jollie_Rancher
Chapter Eight: Possession
The next morning the four friends headed to breakfast together. "Two days into school and already there's been more excitement than one person should ever have to endure. I hope things settle down some now." Ron whimpered as he plopped down across from Hermione. When they're eyes met Ron quickly busied himself with piling food on his plate.
Suddenly the Great Hall was full of owls bringing the mail. The four were surprised when a beautiful Screech Owl with a WWW on it's back landed in front of them with a package for Ginny.
"It's from Fred and George." She said excitedly. She ripped the small package open enthusiastically. She read it out loud.
Dear Ginny, First, congratulations to you, Harry, Ron, and Hermione for getting detention in detention. And a special congratulations to you for getting three detentions in one day. However, we still hold the record of five in one day and 86 in one year. So keep trying. And we thought you might like some goodies. Have fun with them and use them well.
Love,
Fred and George
In the package were some of the twin's latest inventions of the practical joke kind.
"Wow, they certainly come up with some crazy ideas." Harry commented sifting through the contents of Ginny's package.
"They should be put up. Using them would be against the rules." Hermione said taking the package from Ron and Harry and handing it to Ginny with a stern look.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Their lives settled into a daily pattern over the next few weeks. Quiddich practice started and Ginny remained seeker, even though she wanted to be chaser, because they could find no one else to be seeker. And Ron was off to a good start as keeper and had improved greatly since last year. Unfortunately for Ginny part of her daily routine was getting a detention from Snape. It appeared that the twins had jinxed the various items they had sent her so that no matter where she left them they always wound up back on her person. Possession of these items was the reason Snape gave her detention daily. Although, it could have been much worse if it hadn't been for the fact that Estel always seemed to be the one she served detention with. She became very fond of Estel and the other three did as well. They would often accompany Ginny to and from detention for the chance to speak with Estel. Professor Mouto would be there at times as well and on these occasions they were often inclined to stay. In History of Magic they had been learning about the magic of ancient Egypt, including shadow magic. And in Defense Against The Dark Arts they were learning to duel and about shadow magic and how it eats normal magic. Most students either could not or would not believe what Professor Mouto said about shadow magic. The exception was Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny who constantly sought to learn as much as they could, which was part of the reason they all walked Ginny to and from detention.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Yami Marik looked at the grave robber who sat across the tattered room. "What do you think. Do you find it wise to duel him face to face? If we do that, all three God cards would be there. Not to mention the fact that the scales have been located. That would leave only two of the necessary parts for the ritual."
"What's missing?" Bakura asked.
"The other two items."
"Why do I get the feeling that that's not all that's missing?"
"True love."
"What?"
"Whoever wants to receive the spirit must be willing to die for true love."
"Then there's only one thing missing."
"What?" Marik hissed.
""I said there's only one thing."
"Yes, I heard you, you imbecile. What did you mean by that."
"I mean that little Yu Gi has gotten engaged."
"What, but how, to whom?"
"He's engaged to the owner of the Millennium Scales. As for how, the normal way I suppose. He proposed."
"You fool, don't you know what this means?"
"It means he has a new weakness, we hurt her, we hurt him."
"No you idiot. It means he's stronger. Shadow magic is a power of the soul. The soul grows through emotion."
"So I guess this means you don't want to duel Yu Gi Mouto."
"You are a fool. I have to duel him, but I want it to be in a place of my choosing. Besides, I haven't dueled him in years. I need to know how strong he has become."
"That's easy enough. I agree we need to test him. But how would you like to do so with My Lord following us around?"
"I have it all worked out."
"Yes, but I want to know exactly what you are going to do, I don't want you to get your hands on My Millennium Items."
"Yours?" Marik asked him raising one thin brow.
"Yes, mine. I won't let you get your hands on them."
"You fool."
"Perhaps, but I still want to know what you are planning."
"Fine." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
On the way to History of Magic Harry noticed that Ginny had her dueling deck with her. She had been acting strange all morning and had hardly spoken at breakfast. He hoped she was all right.
"Ginny, why are you bringing your deck to class?" Harry asked her.
"Mind your own business and leave me to mine you imbecile." She shot back at him in a manner not her own.
"I'm sorry." Harry said hurt and confused not knowing what else to say to keep her from being upset with him. He went over to where Ron was.
"Ron, is something wrong with Ginny?" He asked his close friend.
"I don't know, you might ask Hermione, girls are always talking to each other about stuff." Ron said in response. Harry went to get next to Hermione.
"Hermione, do you know what's gotten into Ginny?" He asked hoping she could provide some insight.
"I'm not sure, she won't talk to me. She's been acting this way since Care of Magical Creatures two days ago." Hermione said sounding somewhat worried.
"What did they do there?" Harry asked.
"I think they went out into the Forbidden Forest." She replied. "Something may have happened in the forest. Ernie McMillan said she stayed behind to talk to Hagrid, and then missed their next two classes."
"That doesn't sound like Ginny." Harry said. "Maybe we should tell Estel. She'll know what to do."
"Let's go after History of Magic. The sooner the better."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Estel sat on the corner of Yu Gi's desk. "Honey," she said, "I've been thinking."
"Yes," he asked her.
"Let's have the wedding at Hogwarts. I mean, it would be fun. Not to mention Hermione and Ginny could be bridesmaids."
"And I suppose you want Harry and Ron to be groomsmen."
"Yes," she smiled. "And in your extra nice I'll even suggest that Joey, Tristan, Mia, and Serenity be part of the ceremony."
"What if I'm not nice," he said with an impish glint in his eyes. "What if I'm naughty?"
"Then I'll just have to be naughty back." she whispered in his ear. He looked at her in surprise and then began to laugh.
"Class is about to start" he told her. "Do you want to stick around, or would you prefer to go scare some students lingering in the halls?"
"I think I'll settle for a good mix. I'll go stand in the hall and you can leave the door open." she said.
"Sounds good to me." he said grabbing her around the waist and pulling her off the desk. Laughing he picked her up and swung her around. When she too was laughing he set her down and covered her lips with his. When he removed them her eyes were closed and she was smiling in pure joy. Slowly she sighed and opened her eyes.
"I love you." She said simply.
"I love you too." He watched as she glided from the room. He was still staring at the place where she had stepped into the Shadow Realms when the students arrived.
As they filtered in he pulled his awareness back to the present. Harry and Hermione came in with worried expression. Then Ginny came in. Had he been paying attention he would have notice the slight wave of Shadow Magic that followed her into the room, but only if he had been paying very close attention. Eventually everyone got settled down for class to begin.
"We've been studying the Ancient Egyptian Sorcerers and wizards. Does anyone remember where we left off?" Hermione raised her hand. "Yes?"
"You were talking about how the everyone in Egypt knew about magic. It wasn't a secret like it is now."
"Very good." He smiled. "Five points to Gryffindor. How and why did they know about the magic?"
This time Ginny raised her hand. "They knew because of the duels between the nobles. One in particular in which the Pharaoh fought a treacherous magician. After the duel the Pharaoh locked all the power away into seven Items. From then on the magic was a secret. After all, he couldn't have just anyone knowing about the unbelievable power he had hidden. They might try to take it."
Yu Gi narrowed his eyes. "Have we discussed this in class?" he asked her, his yami taking over.
"Who needs to discuss what is common knowledge among old friends."
Instantly Yami Yu Gi was on his guard. //Estel// he sent. //I need you, but when you get here, hide. Don't show yourself// He felt her enter the room. Then he returned his attention to Ginny. "I'm afraid I don't understand."
"Truly little Yu Gi. Then you are more of a pathetic fool than I thought you were. But don't worry. Soon I'll have the Spirit, Bakura will have your puzzle, and you will have bigger things to worry about, when you're trapped in the Shadow Realms."
"Marik." He hissed. "I didn't think even you would stoop so low as to enslave a child."
"They are much easier to control. Especially when they've been a mind slave before." Ginny said with an evil glint to her eyes.
"What do you want Marik? Whatever it is leave the child out of it."
"But Lord Voldemort suggested this child in particular. I personally don't see why he likes this child. Even locked in a soul room she can scream amazingly loud."
"I can tell. You'd better be careful Marik. You've lost control before. You wouldn't want to do so again. Hold on tight, you're already slipping."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry ran forward knocking over chairs and desks. Ginny turned to him. For a split second he thought he saw sorrow, fear, and anger hidden in her eyes. Then it was gone. Ginny quickly pulled out Mirror Wall and threw a barrier up between them.
"Fight him!" Harry screamed at her in desperation. "You have to fight it Ginny. I can't help you this time. But I know you can do it. Just fight him!"
Ginny looked at him in contempt. "My control won't slip." She said turning back to Yami Yu Gi. "Bakura is strengthening me this time. Last time it was he who broke the tie."
"Ah, the tie that binds. It can always be broken if the resistance is strong enough."
"Do something!" Ron yelled to no one in particular. Hermione took his hand in hers and whispered through her tears, "Professor Mouto will save her."
"Yes, Professor Mouto. Save her." Ginny snarled pulling out a dueling deck. Yu Gi glanced around the room. Then once again the ceiling began to darken. Two white slippered feet slowly sank to the floor followed by a white Egyptian style dress. Silently she sank to the floor. Her ebony hair fell softly down to her waist.
"Sister." Ginny hissed almost in alarm. Then she strode to stand beside Yu Gi. This girl was much shorter than his sister, Ishizu. Quietly she stretched up to her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek.
"You can defeat him, my love." Yami Estel whispered.
"So this is the famed possessor of the Millennium Scales!"
"Wrong. I am the loyal servant of my pharaoh!" She accused, one delicate finger pointed at Ginny. "Unlike you," she snarled with contempt, "I serve him with every ounce of my soul. You, on the other hand are nothing but the lowest form of scum, traitor!" Her eyes had started to glow the same reddish-purple of Yu Gi's. " As for you, you long-forgotten, good-for- naught pick-pocket Are you now a worthless puppet as well as a mangy cur, you treacherous toad."
Ginny snarled at the hurled insults. //You're getting better at that, love.// Yami Yu Gi whispered to her in her mind.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry watched on in helplessness. It was the same feeling he'd had when he watched Voldemort kill Cedric, or as he saw Sirius fall behind the veil. There nothing he could do and he knew it. She must keep fighting. Could any one save her? If any one could, it would be Professor Mouto. Everything in his being was screaming, he could not lose her too.
Ron and Hermione griped each other's hands tighter. Ron stared on with a mixture of anger and fear. Sure Ginny could be a pain but she was his sister and he loved her. He could tell by the look on Professor Mouto's face that this was a very bad situation. He knew Ginny was a fighter, he had the scars to prove it, and she could not give in now when it mattered most. He only hoped that Yu Gi and Estel could do something. Hermione looked on in tears. She had heard many stories about the King of Games, and she now put all her faith in him and in Ginny's ability to keep fighting. She prayed they would not fail.
Neville stared in horror. Would she wind up like his parents. No! She couldn't. She had to fight. There had to be some way someone could save her.
The whole class was deathly silent. Though none of them fully understood the gravity of the situation they all knew that the stakes were high. One look at their Professor told them that much.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ginny placed the deck on the table. "Are you ready to lose your puzzle?" She taunted.
"You've sang that song before Marik" Yu Gi reminded him, "but I've yet to lose to you." He said pulling out his famous Dark Magician deck. Estel looked on to her pharaoh in confidence. He would not lose, of that she was certain. She turned her gaze to Ginny. Once again she felt the scales go haywire. Yes, that girl was definitely outnumbered. She would have to do something about that.
Yu Gi and Ginny were quickly ready to begin. Slowly Yu Gi felt the Shadow Realm creeping up to hide them. "I don't think so." He hissed at Ginny. He bent his will and the indigo mists withdrew, save for a few small tendrils which twirled themselves lovingly about his arms and legs. Then he strode towards the table and sat opposite his opponent. Silently they shuffled their decks and drew five cards each.
"Let's duel!" They shouted, startling half the class. The duel began in earnest. They played card after card. Then Yu Gi noticed something. Every time Ginny went to get a card she felt along its edge, as though looking for something. Oh well. Let her cheat. He would still win. \\Aibou,\\ Estel whispered to him in his soul room. \\I'm going to get rid of Bakura. When I do you have to get rid of Marik.\\
//I can't get rid of him without getting rid of her.//
\\ Try.\\
Estel delved deep into the Shadow Realms for the place where she kept her scales hidden. When she found it she took them out. Balancing carefully between her hands she began to murmur a quiet chant. She couldn't let Marik and Bakura know what she was doing. When she had reached the pinnacle of her powers she blasted the tie that was Bakura's bond to the girl.
"I place this card face down, and I change the arena to Mountain." Yami said laying Mountain face up, and Just Deserts face down. Then he played Winged Guardian Of The Fortress face down in defense mode.
"My turn." Ginny hissed in Marik's uncouth voice. I play Saggi The Dark Clown in defensive."
"It doesn't matter Marik." Yami said. "I play dark hole." Marik glared at him through Ginny's eyes. \\NOW!\\ He heard in his mind. Confusion flashed across Ginny's face. "Elephants?!?!?!?!?!?!"
"I play Harpie's Brother in attack mode." He said laying down the card Estel had given him on their first date. "I attack with Harpie's Brother! GO!" With only fifteen hundred Life Points left, Marik was destroyed. But that wasn't what the students were watching. The monster had come to life, and before their very eyes had attacked Ginny. His red wings beat the air ferociously. Ginny seemed to split into two people. Her self, and a person about their professor's height. He had what seemed to be white hair and was holding a golden rod before him. Then he was gone.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
When Bakura's hold on the young girl snapped, Estel dove into her mind where she sat sobbing in her soul room. "Ginny!" She roared from the outside of the closed door. "Ginny can you hear me?"
"Estel?" The girl yelled from inside her soul room.
"Ginny, listen to me. This is your mind. If you can't shake Marik, we can't help you. You have to find away to get rid of this door."
"I can't," she wailed, "It's to strong."
"I've weakened it some from out here. All you have to do is hit it with something big and it will fall. I'm leaving now, but you will hear me when it's time." Estel said as she pulled out of Ginny's mind.
\\ NOW!\\ she cried in the loudest mind voice she possessed. If Ginny and Yami didn't hit Marik at exactly the same time, Ginny would be lost for all eternity.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
What is something big? Ginny thought, something big, something big, suddenly she had an Idea. \\NOW!\\ A heard rampaging of elephants ran past Ginny and trampled the door down. She was free. Suddenly there was a strange sensation all through her, like when someone hit you directly with a powerful spell. She felt it as the presence that had possessed her was torn from her mind completely freeing her from his control. But a voice was screaming at her to stop fighting him, he would regain control. She would not stop, she knew she would not survive if she stopped fighting so she fought even harder. The world suddenly burst into view and then faded once again as she collapsed on the floor. But she managed to say one word before she lost consciousness.
"Harry" came the whispered word.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry watched as the wall between him and Ginny disintegrated. He ran to Ginny's side just as she began to collapse. "Harry" she whispered before going limp in his arms. "Ginny!" he hollered checking for a pulse or breath or any sign of life.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Yami Yu Gi looked over to Yami Estel who stood at his side. He watched her as she put away the Scales. On silent feet she walked over to him and put her hands on his shoulders. Just as quietly he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. Strange, he thought to himself, she's so slender, and yet she's so strong. She pulled away and cupped his face in her hands. A single tear trailed a path down his cheek. She brushed it off his face with one alabaster hand. Her eyes glowed with love. He looked down from her face to the deck that had been scattered across the table on which they had dueled. Regretfully he picked up Marik's deck and threw it into the fire in the corner of the room. "There will be no cheating in this room." He whispered. Then Estel slipped her hand around his. They fled to his soul room to rest, leaving their Hikaris to take care of the students. When they were hidden away within the confines of the mental labyrinth, he collapsed in her arms from sheer exhaustion.
Yu Gi looked around the classroom in disbelief. He looked down and saw his beloved with her arms wrapped lovingly around him. He smiled at her.
"Yami says we can handle it from here. It's going to be okay now." She smiled up at him. Together they turned to the students. Ginny was quite unconscious. Neville was sobbing uncontrollably, and shaking like mad. Hermione and Ron were clinging to each other, completely unaware of anything but Ginny's lifeless form crumpled in Harry's arms. Yu Gi walked over to where Harry was bent over Ginny. He placed one hand on the young man's shoulder. Harry looked up at his professor with tear stained eyes.
"Yami said it will be alright. Take her to the Hospital Wing." Quietly he turned back to Estel.
"Your yami says it will be alright, and mine agrees with him, so we know it will be fine." He smiled at her.
"We need to tell Dumbledor about this." The two adults left the room. They didn't get far though. They had just reached the door when Yu Gi turned as though remembering something. "Oh, yeah. Class dismissed."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Unable to contain their excitement any longer the students all moved in around Ginny. Harry looked up to see them all pressing in around him keeping him from being able to get her to the Hospital Wing.
"Back off!" He ordered looking for someone to help him get the mob away from Ginny. The DA members immediately came to his aid and drew their wands. The other students cleared away and left a path to the doors. Harry picked up Ginny and carried her to the Hospital Wing, escorted by the DA members. When they reached the door only Harry, Ron, and Hermione went in.
Madam Pomphrey looked up and rushed to help them get Ginny on one of the beds and immediately began to check her over. The students stood in silence, waiting.
"Well, nothing a good nights sleep won't cure. She'll be just fine by morning." Madam Pomphrey reassured them as she shooed them out and on to their next class. Out side the door the other DA members were waiting to find out what Madam Pomphrey had said. Neville looked like bad news would give him a nervous break down.
"She said Ginny will be fine, she just needs some sleep." Harry managed to tell them and they all left for their next class silently. However, none of them, especially Harry, Ron, and Hermione, could concentrate in any of their classes the rest of the day.
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ME: So, what did you guys think?
JR: If you guys aren't totally into this story by now, you're just sad.
HP: I'm not that gushy!
YGO: Now you know how I feel.
HP: Yeah, but you are that short.
YGO: Am not.
ET: Leave off Harry.
RW: Why was I hugging Hermione?
JR: You weren't hugging her, you were clinging to her. There's a difference. You were only holding hands.
RW: %$ Why was I hugging Hermione?
JR: -_- You were worried about Ginny, okay.
ET: Not to mention you love her.
RW: I do?
HP: Look he's practicing for the wedding already.
ET: When's the date.
RW: %$
JW: Hey did I miss anything?
ME: Only the whole story Joey.
JW: O_o
ET: Well, I've got to go help Hermione pick out her wedding dress.
RW: Don't get an expensive one, I'm not rich you know.
ME: -_- I've got to take Ron to the therapist to convince him he's not getting married. Thanks guys.
JR: I'll come with you. He might need to be restrained.
RW: O_o
HP: Don't worry Ron, I'll come to make sure they don't do anything terrible.
SS: This is pointless. I'm leaving.
YGO: What! I'm late, I promised Grandpa I'd help him sweep the shop!
MV: I think I'll try and catch up with Hermione and E.T. See ya Joey.
JW: Hey guys! Wait for me!
Okay. Semi-serious notes. I out that little twist about true love releasing the Spirit of the Pharaoh because I like the idea of 'true love conquers all. Oh, and I also needed a good reason for ET to be at the final duel.